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GULF COAST TRADE AND LOGISTICS executive vice president and chief commercial officer , Port Tampa Bay . “ TEU volumes are up 18 % over the past 12 months .”
Port investments will add capacity to stay ahead of the curve and continue to serve the growing market .
Together with terminal operator partner Ports America , Port Tampa Bay recently added three ship-to-shore gantry cranes , bringing the total to five , with plans to acquire two more . A new gate system was recently completed with six inbound and three outbound lanes featuring optical character recognition and weigh-in-motion scales .
The port ’ s deepening project will increase the channel depth from 43-47 feet over the coming years , Alfonso said . This will complement a container buildout program that has helped Port Tampa Bay establish itself as a supply chain solution .
Additionally , expansion of paved storage is nearing completion , and
construction to add a third deep-water berth is in the early stages . Planning is underway for a new on-dock , rail-served transload warehouse .
Shippers and other beneficial cargo owners ( BCOs ) are focused on reducing
costs in their global supply chains , and Gulf Coast ports often present shorter inland transportation distances to major consumer markets .
“ By routing their cargo via Port Tampa Bay , BCOs are able to do three roundtrip deliveries per day to their distribution centers versus one per day via traditional East Coast port routings , resulting in truck drayage cost savings of more than $ 1,000 per container ,” Alfonso said .
As container cargoes continue to chase efficiency and chemical and energy
Gulf Coast ports are investing in infrastructure and services for a seamless flow of imports and exports worldwide . production outputs expand for domestic and international markets , Gulf Coast ports are investing in infrastructure and services for a seamless flow of imports and exports worldwide . n
email : gary @ garywrites . com www . joc . com December 2 , 2024 | Journal of Commerce 53